The Path

There is always a path to follow. It doesn't matter where you are and where you wish to go. There will always be a clear, well trodden path. It will be simple, straight forward and will lead you to your goal. Or what you would consider your goal. Because there hasn't been a single person that knew what their goal was. All they know is they need to get somewhere in the vicinity of what they think is their goal. That's about it. It would be enough for them to consider themselves successful.

The truth is, no path is ever going to get you satisfaction. There will always be that longing for having done something different; something better. Being a better man takes the will and determination to break the path. Success isn't ever a title held by the followers. This sounds clichéd but that's only because it takes experience to realize it, and by the time you have that experience, you're too far gone from the choice to break free of that path.

There is always an idiot that will choose to break the path just for the sake of saying 'I did it'. They may or may not, in their adrenaline-fueled frenzy to break free of the norms, achieve success. That's mighty lucky and an accidental case, not to be mistaken as well-deserved fruits of labor, or worse -  destiny. It is highly short-lived and pretty much like giving a box of cigarettes to a monkey. He won't know what to do with them, and by the time he tries everything and realizes, there won't be a cigarette left in a condition worth lighting. Pardon the complicated analogy, I'm in a state of semi-conscious torpor.

The point I'm trying to make is it's not always necessary to break the path. You need to realize when it calls for keeping your head down and pushing onward and when to break free to Forge your own path, unsure of where the destination lies. More importantly one needs to have their priorities clear on why they would break the path otherwise it is all in vain. Simply a waste of time, efforts, and a life. So feel free to walk off the path. Jump, duck, run and fall. Learn as much as you can because experience is the best teacher. Break the path when you know in your gut that it's the right thing to do. At the end of the day, if nothing else, the experience will make it worth it.

Deconstructing Opportunity

I haven't posted anything in a while so I thought I'd check in. Today is basically about an update on some facts I've come to realize in life.

Opportunity is everywhere. All you gotta do is take it. You're not/never going to be different. The old saying about everyone being unique is a farce. You're fooling nobody but yourself if you believe it. However, there is a little truth in the statement when they say everyone is unique. The meaning becomes lucid when you alter it slightly to put it as "Everyone has the potential to be unique". Now that's what they should be teaching kids at school.

These past few weeks have been an introspection on my life. I got into a Summer Internship Program at one of the premier institutions in the country - the Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai. It's almost every Engineer's wet dream to get into this place, be it on the basis of merit or luck (read 'reservation') - but that's just a personal opinion. I'm not getting into the details of that discussion in this post. So I got into this place for a Summer Project and it's been a few busy weeks considering I've got my examinations going on simultaneously. Studying and working have been pretty much what I do all day. Life has become slightly different. I won't say dull because this is probably how life will work for the next two years if not rest of my career and I don't want to scare myself by putting down the lifestyle. Obviously I'll get a little time once I'm done with my examinations and hopefully I'll explore the sports facilities offered by the institution more closely. Again, I digress.

Once I got into the Program, I received tons of emails and messages from friends and family alike; all congratulatory in nature, but with that tinge of envy and curiosity as to how I managed to get in and if they could all get in as well. The fact is, it's a consequence of two key factors - I worked hard and I got lucky. Another fact is, they could all get in as well. But they don't want to look. Most people want opportunity to come to them. Too bad, bub. Life doesn't work that way. I admit I got lucky but I worked very hard to get into thus place and if you're asking me for a shortcut, I'm afraid there isn't one.

The point behind this anecdote was to get people to understand that you can't sit around and expect life to work out for you. If any of them performed a simple Google Search with the name of a few Professors, they'd realize there was a permanently running Internship Program. Of course, getting in is a whole different ball game. I know they probably won't because I'm currently working with the same team and I know they're not recruiting people as interns as of now. But at least you could apply. Not one person I knew even tried it because if they had, they'd have a whole different set of questions to ask me.

I get really annoyed when people crib about there not being enough opportunities for someone of their background, be it because their University is not recognized enough, or their marks aren't good enough, or even because they lack the skill set expected of a potential intern at their level. I know this because I've been through all the stages I just listed out. I've been talentless, I've underperformed constantly, I've lacked the skill set, and I've been disillusioned enough to want to give up on life and run away to the Himalayas to meditate. But I got over it. I worked. I studied. I learnt. I developed both, as a student and as a person to get to where I am today. Obviously I'm still nowhere of consequence but only I know that. People seem to believe I've conquered mountains. It doesn't hurt to let them believe what they want for now. Heh.

So, quit cribbing. Start looking. And never let anything stop you from getting to where you want. If I can get here, so can you. Yes, I mean you. I live by this Golden Rule that's worked out pretty great for me so far whenever I'm confused as to whether I can get in someplace be it an internship at a company or research at an institution,
"Apply karne mein kya jaata hain"
(What's the harm in applying)

Think about it. It's been pretty helpful when I'm in doubt. Goodluck!